Physocarpus plant named ‘Lady In Red’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Physocarpus  plant named ‘Lady in Red’ that is characterized by freely branching habit, red foliage and pink flowers. In combination these traits set ‘Lady in Red’ apart from all other existing varieties of  Physocarpus  known to the inventor.

Genus: Physocarpus. Species: opulifolius.

Denomination: ‘Lady in Red’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Physocarpus, or ninebark, that is grown for use as an ornamental landscape plant. It is known botanically as Physocarpus opulifolius and will be referred to hereinafter by the cultivar name ‘Lady in Red’.

‘Lady in Red’ was discovered at the inventor's nursery in Norfolk, United Kingdom, in a batch of seedlings grown from seed collected by the inventor from Physocarpus opulifolius cultivar ‘Monlo’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,211) and sown in 2000.

‘Lady in Red’ was selected from the resulting population of seedlings or its distinguishing combination of red leaves and pink flowers. The closest cultivars known to the inventor are ‘Monlo’ and ‘Diable d'Or’ (unpatented), but both of those have creamy-white flowers. In addition, the emerging foliage of ‘Diable d'Or’ is amber in color compared to the red of ‘Lady in Red’.

Asexual reproduction of ‘Lady in Red’ was first accomplished by the inventor in 2001, at the inventor's nursery in Norfolk, United Kingdom. The method of asexual propagation used was stem cuttings. Since that time the characteristics of the new cultivar have been determined stable and to be reproduced true to type in successive generations of vegetative propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent the characteristics of the new Physocarpus cultivar ‘Lady in Red’. These traits in combination distinguish this cultivar from all other commercial varieties known to the inventor. ‘Lady in Red’ has not been tested under all possible conditions and phenotypic differences may be observed with variations in environmental, climatic and cultural conditions without however any difference in genotype.

-   -   1. Physocarpus ‘Lady in Red’ exhibits a free branching shrubby         growth habit.     -   2. Physocarpus ‘Lady in Red’ exhibits red foliage.     -   3. Physocarpus ‘Lady in Red’ exhibits pink flowers.     -   4. Physocarpus ‘Lady in Red’ is 2 m in overall height and 2 m in         width in a 1.5-liter container.     -   5. Physocarpus ‘Lady in Red’ is deciduous.     -   6. Physocarpus ‘Lady in Red’ blooms in mid-June.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying color drawings illustrate the overall appearance of the new Physocarpus variety ‘Lady in Red’ showing colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the drawings may differ from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the actual colors of the new variety ‘Lady in Red’.

The drawing labeled as FIG. 1 illustrates the entire plant in flower.

The drawing labeled as FIG. 2 illustrates the emerging foliage.

The drawing labeled as FIG. 3 illustrates a close up view of an inflorescence.

All drawings were made from 4 year old plants grown in open ground in Norfolk, England. No chemicals were used to treat the plants. All drawings were made using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance they are as accurate as possible by conventional photography.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of the new cultivar ‘Lady in Red’. Data was collected from 2 year old plants grown out of doors in 1.5-liter containers in Norfolk, England. The color determinations are in accordance with the 2001 edition of The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. No chemicals were used to treat the plants. Growing conditions were typical to other Physocarpus.

-   Botanical classification: Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Lady in Red’. -   Genus: Physocarpus. -   Species: opulifolius. -   Common name: Ninebark. -   Commercial classification: Deciduous shrub. -   Use: Garden shrub. -   Parentage: Open pollination of Physocarpus ‘Monlo’ (female parent). -   Plant description:     -   -   Bloom period.—Mid-June.         -   Plant habit.—Freely branching shrub.         -   Plant dimensions at maturity.—2 m in overall height and             width.         -   Plant hardiness.—USDA Zone 2.         -   Type.—Deciduous shrub.         -   Root system.—Fibrous.         -   Propagation.—Propagation is accomplished using softwood             cuttings.         -   Cultural requirements.—Plant in full sun, well-drained and             moderately fertile soil and keep well fertilized and             watered. Soil pH preferably under 7.5.         -   Diseases and pests.—In common with Physocarpus generally,             ‘Lady in Red’ is susceptible to aphid infestation. No other             susceptibility or resistance to pests or diseases is known             to the inventor.         -   Time required to produce a rooted cutting.—2 weeks.         -   Temperature recommended for cuttings to produce roots.—The             air temperature needed is a minimum of 20° Centigrade air             temperature.         -   Crop time.—18-24 months to produce a commercially saleable             plant in a 1 gallon container. -   Foliage:     -   -   Main branch.—Texture: Smooth, peeling. Lenticels: Absent.             Color: Peeling bark 199D, exposed underlying bark 199C             streaked with 200D. Diameter: 20 mm. Branching habit:             Branching freely along the stems. Branch angle at emergence:             60°.         -   Young stem.—Color: 178A. Texture: Smooth. Pubescence:             Absent. Lenticels: Absent. Cross-section: Weakly ribbed with             a pithy-filled central cavity. Internode length: 50 mm.             Diameter: 6 mm. Leaf arrangement: Alternate.         -   Stipules.—Presence: Present. Shape: Asymmetrically ovate             with attenuate tip. Dimensions: 11 mm in length and 1.5 mm             in width. Color: 177D.         -   Petiole.—Presence: Present. Dimensions: 23 mm in length, 1.5             mm in width. Pubescence: Absent. Color: 183A.         -   Leaf.—Shape: 3-lobed, overall shape broad ovate. Dimensions:             75 mm in length and 60 mm in width. Apex: Acute. Base:             Weakly cordate. Thickness: Thin. Margins: Double-toothed,             secondary teeth crenate. Emerging leaf color (adaxial):             183A, but more intense; veins same as lamina. Emerging leaf             color (abaxial): Lamina N199A; mid-vein 176A; lateral veins             as lamina. Mature leaf color (adaxial): Between 200A and             N200A; veins as lamina. Mature leaf color (abaxial): Lamina             nearest 194A, but browner and more intense; mid-vein 172B at             base merging to 195B at tip; lateral veins 195B. Pubescence             (adaxial and abaxial surfaces): Absent. Venation pattern:             Pinnate. Fragrance: Absent. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Flowering season.—Mid-June in UK conditions.         -   Inflorescence type.—Dense terminal corymbs on short lateral             branches. Corymb diameter: 50 mm. Approximate number of             flowers per inflorescence: Between 50 to 100.         -   Peduncle.—Dimensions: 10 mm in length and 2 mm in diameter.             Color: 178A. Pubescence: Absent.         -   Pedicel.—Dimensions: 13 mm in length and 0.5 mm in width.             Color: 182C. Pubescence: Absent.         -   Bud.—Dimensions: 4 mm in length and diameter. Shape:             Spherical. Color: 63C.         -   Flowers.—Flowers persistent or self-cleaning: Self-cleaning.             Flower type: Single. Fragrance: Very weak. Shape:             Salver-shaped. Dimensions: 5 mm in length and 10 mm in             diameter. Aspect: Radiating from the center of the corymb.             Note: Perianth segments and stamens arise from the margins             of a cup-shaped hypanthium (floral cup). Hypanthium             dimensions: 2 mm in length and 4 mm in diameter. Hypanthium             color: 161A. Calyx dimensions: 8 mm in diameter; 0 mm in             height as sepals are horizontal. Number of sepals: 5.             Sepals: Dimensions: 3 mm in length, 2.5 mm in width. Shape:             Triangular-ovate. Apex: Sharply acute. Margin: Smooth, flat.             Pubescence: Upper and lower surfaces finely pubescent.             Color: Outer surface 181B, inner surface 181D. Corolla:             Shape: Salver-shaped. Number of petals/lobes: 5. Segments             fused or free: Free. Depth of throat: Throat absent. Petal:             Shape: Almost round (very broad ovate), concave. Tip:             Rounded. Base: Rounded. Margin form: Smooth. Surface:             Smooth. Dimensions: 5 mm in length and 4 mm in width. Color             (outer surface): 73C. Color (inner surface): 75C. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamen number.—25.         -   Filament dimensions.—5 mm in length and less than 0.5 mm in             width.         -   Filament color.—155A.         -   Anther dimensions.—0.5 mm in length and less than 0.5 mm in             width.         -   Anther shape.—Rounded rectangular.         -   Anther color.—N186B.         -   Pollen color.—4D.         -   Pollen quantity.—Small.         -   Stigma number.—5; 1 per follicle.         -   Stigma shape.—Capitate.         -   Stigma diameter.—0.5 mm.         -   Stigma color.—5C.         -   Style shape.—Filiform.         -   Style dimensions.—5 mm in length and less than 0.5 mm in             width.         -   Style color.—155A.         -   Ovary position.—Superior.         -   Ovary shape.—A group of 5 follicles connate at the base.         -   Ovary dimensions.—1.5 mm in length and 2 mm in overall             width.         -   Ovary color.—154C. -   Seed:     -   -   Number.—2 per follicle.         -   Shape.—Ovoid, shiny.         -   Dimensions.—2 mm in length and 1 mm in width.         -   Color.—164B and 164C. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Physocarpus plant named ‘Lady in Red’ as described and illustrated herein. 